[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18081]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have been saying for weeks and months 
that we are overdue to pass into law the Leahy-Crapo Violence Against 
Women Reauthorization Act, which the Senate approved in April with 68 
bipartisan votes. I am disappointed that the House still has not picked 
up this bipartisan effort and that we are not getting the job done this 
year. I want everyone to know that I will be back next year, and we 
will get it done.
  Just yesterday we were reminded again why this legislation is so 
important. In Colorado, a man just released from jail on domestic 
violence charges shot his way into a house, murdering his ex-
girlfriend, and her sister, and her sister's husband, before killing 
himself. We have seen enough horrific violence. It is past time to act.
  The Leahy-Crapo bill would support the use of techniques proven to 
help identify high-risk cases and prevent domestic violence homicides. 
It will help us go further to prevent domestic and sexual violence and 
to provide services and support to all victims.
  For several weeks, I have been advocating a compromise on a key 
provision aimed at addressing the epidemic of domestic violence against 
native women. I want to compliment my partner on this bill, Senator 
Crapo, who has been working hard to try to bridge the divide and 
address concerns with the provision in our bill that gives limited 
jurisdiction to tribal courts to make sure that no perpetrators of 
domestic violence are immune from prosecution. Senator Crapo has pushed 
hard and has indicated a willingness to compromise significantly, as 
have I. Sadly, others have continued to draw lines which would 
ultimately deny assistance to some of the most vulnerable victims. That 
is unacceptable.
  I appreciate that there have at last been some renewed discussions 
about this bill in the House of Representatives but that is not enough. 
The only way to reauthorize VAWA this year is for the House to take up 
and pass the Senate-passed bill. If the House Republican leadership 
refuses to do that in the final days of this Congress, it is a shame.
  I remain steadfast in my resolve to get this done and pass a good 
VAWA bill that protects all victims. I know Senator Crapo shares my 
resolve. I know every woman in the Senate and many other Senators and 
House members share our resolve. I know President Obama and Vice 
President Biden share our resolve.
  We will be back next year. We will introduce a good bill, and we will 
pass it through the Senate. We will continue our discussions, and we 
will work tirelessly to have a good bill enacted into law. This is not 
the end of our efforts to renew and improve VAWA to more effectively 
help all victims of domestic and sexual violence.
  We know that the epidemic of violence against native women is 
appalling, with a recent study finding that almost three in five native 
women have been assaulted by their spouses or intimate partners. We 
know that immigrant women are particularly vulnerable, with their 
immigration status another weapon that abusers can use to keep power 
and prevent reporting. We know that some victims cannot access needed 
services because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We 
know that women and girls on college campuses are too much at risk, and 
more must be done to protect them. The list goes on.
  We have shown a willingness to compromise but we must make progress 
on all of these issues. We must make things better, and never make 
things worse, for the most vulnerable of victims.
  The community of advocates and service providers who work every day 
with victims of these terrible crimes is inspiring. It was their advice 
on the real needs of real victims that shaped this legislation, and 
they have fought with us every day to get this bill enacted. I want 
them to know how much I value the work they do and that I will not 
abandon their cause. We will continue working together, and we will 
reauthorize VAWA.
  We have seen enough violence. If we cannot get the Leahy-Crapo bill 
over the finish line this year, we will come back next year, and we 
will get it done. I look forward to other Senators joining us as we 
continue this vital effort.

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